The Loyola women’s soccer team’s non-conference schedule isn’t a smooth road with easy match-ups, and not without reason. Seeing different systems of play from top-ranked teams prepares the players for tougher conference games and the eventual conference tournament, according to head coach Barry Bimbi.
This season alone, the Ramblers have played NCAA-ranked teams including No. 16 University of Wisconsin-Madison, No. 20 University of Kansas and No. 50 University of Illinois. Loyola fell 3-1 to Illinois and 6-0 to Kansas but drew 1-1 against Wisconsin. Last year, the Ramblers played schools such as then-No. 19 University of Notre Dame and then-No.